Montreal's Nino & Electric Soul delivers a nostalgic yet refreshingly modern blend of R&B and soul in their debut EP, P.A.S.T. Released on January 21, 2025, the four-track collection takes listeners on an emotional exploration of love, introspection, and connection through smooth grooves and lush live instrumentation.
Frontman Nino Flamenco, raised in a musically rich household, channels the spirit of legends like Stevie Wonder and D'Angelo, combining timeless 70s arrangements with contemporary soul flair. Each track on P.A.S.T. offers a unique slice of life's complexities, yet the overarching message is clear: life's beauty lies in its simplicity and the connections we create.
The EP kicks off with Simplicity, where Nino questions why we complicate our lives when things could be more straightforward. The track's laid-back rhythm and introspective lyrics invite us to reflect on our choices. One For My Love shifts to heartfelt vulnerability as Nino celebrates the warmth and joy his newfound love has brought into his life.
Greenlight captures the suspenseful thrill of romantic attraction, the inner debate of whether or not to make a move, as jazzy melodies and sultry vocals heighten the tension. Finally, Understanding emphasizes the beauty of meaningful conversations and deepening relationships. It's a poignant reminder of how much we can learn and grow through human connection.
With P.A.S.T., Nino & Electric Soul offers a deeply personal and universally relatable project, inviting listeners to rediscover themselves through love, curiosity, and soulful storytelling. This EP is a must-hear for fans of timeless R&B who crave nostalgia and innovation.
Your music is a beautiful blend of past and present influences. How did growing up in such a musically diverse household shape the sound you and Electric Soul have created on P.A.S.T.?
I always had something to draw from and it never felt like there was anything wrong to be inspired by. Ever since I was a kid, I listened to various music styles, from Soul to Funk, Pop, Hip Hop, RnB, Rock, Reggae, Dancehall, Motown, Salsa, and even Metal. It felt easy afterward to mix styles. I understood what made the songs of these genres so great by identifying their attitude and essence. The members of the band also have their own set of influences and their upbringing in music that makes the sound come together so well in this project.
The EP touches on themes of introspection and self-discovery. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind Simplicity and why simplifying life became such a central theme for this project?
I wrote Simplicity during the pandemic lockdown in 2021 after memories of a conversation I had with a friend, in which we talked about how life can be a drag sometimes. I asked myself, why do things get complicated when they could be simple? I’m sure anyone reading this has had a moment in their day where they expect things to go according to plan, but something gets in the way somehow. // … // (With that conversation in mind, followed by) Within the writing process of this song, the theme came to revolve around our hope for simplicity in our life.
The desire for things to be less complicated is something that I can relate to, the people around me and the audience also. Simplifying life became such a central theme for this project due to P.A.S.T being my first project. It’s easy to get caught up in different things when you are learning who you are, who you want to become, and the direction you want to go in, both personally and artistically. Setting clear intentions for myself as to what I wanted to achieve had to be done in a way that wasn’t overly complicated.
Greenlight explores the excitement and hesitation before making a move in a romantic situation. Have you experienced a moment like this that influenced the song's creation, and how did you translate that into your music?
Of course, I have. In practically every romantic situation I have approached, I was nervous and hesitant. A woman’s beauty is enough to make a man’s heart beat faster and muster up the courage to approach her. In my case, I was at an event and saw this girl dancing we had locked eyes for a moment. In the moment where I thought “Maybe I should go over to her.” she called me over.
From there, we spent the night enjoying each other’s company. Interestingly enough, I had composed the music before this happened. I sent my friend Widj Gaelle the instrumental to Greenlight, she replied to me with the hook and those lyrics immediately brought me back to that moment of attraction. That experience influenced the lyrics of the song.
Live instrumentation plays a key role in your sound, evoking the energy of legends like Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire. How important is live performance to your artistry, and what do you want fans to feel when they experience your music live?
Live performance, whether it's in the studio or on stage, is the reason why I got into playing with other people, so it’s safe to say it's very important. The possibility of live arrangements that can sometimes surpass the recording is something I love about performing. It creates an element of surprise for the audience and keeps the music fresh. It also gives me a chance to connect with the audience and involve them in the music.
People have come up to me after performances, expressing that they’d felt the emotions I was channeling, and that is what I want. I want people to immerse themselves in the world I'm creating when I perform live as more than a superficial experience. Music is incredibly powerful and when it's experienced live with people sharing the same feelings, the atmosphere can become otherworldly.
You've mentioned that P.A.S.T. is about returning to yourself after life's changes. As someone who has gone through personal and artistic transformations, what advice would you give to others navigating self-discovery and new beginnings?
My advice to navigating self-discovery is to do what you love, play what you like and take whatever you know and make it your own. Something that I have learned from my favorite artists is that they started out making sounds that felt good to them, they developed those sounds into their style and then made it their signature. Any artist's goal should be to perfect their signature. The big artists are already doing the popular sound, so create the music that tells your story.